The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-06-29
GENERAL GREEN CLAY SMITH
How He Caught Even with a Washington
Hotel Man.

How He Caught Even with a Washington
Hotel Man.
"Here and There" of the Danv.lle Advo-
cate, tells the following good story on
well-known Kentucky Baptist minister:
The last, and perhaps the only, whisky
transaction General Green Clay Smith
ever had in his life, came about
in this way; Just before or about
Smith was in Washington City. Engaging
q suit o. rooms at one Of the fashionable
hotels, be had sent to his room ten gallons
of fine Old Crow" whisky that had been
sent him by some friends in Kentucky.
The keg was soon exhausted by the Gen.
erals friends, save & bottle or two, which
he reserved in case OF sickness or snake
bite When the Genera went to settle his
hotel bill the account presented to him ran
thus:
To suit of rooms one week ..........-..s!, 200 90
TO eoTksge forty bottles at Sl.............. 40 90
Total .....Sl, $40 90
General Smith glanced at the bill aud
said to the hotel man: Twelve hundred
dollars Is an exorbitsnt price for the
rooms, but 1 will pay it. Tue item for
corkage l will not pay, as you had nothing
whatever to do with the whisky sent to my
Toom, and have no right TO charge corkage
on it" With stroke of his pen the hotel
man Cancelled the corksge item. General
Smith drew his check for 81, 200 aud the
receiptsd bill was handed him. Upon the
eve of leaving the city for Kentucky General
Smith presen Ted the hotel man with bottle
of whisky. saying: Here, 1 want you to
taste the whisky you wanted 10 charge me
corksge on" The hotel man sampled II
and proI ounced IL the best whisky he had
ever tested, at the same time requesting
General Smith, if possible, to purchase at
least five barrels of whisky for him as soon
as be got TO Kentucky. General Smith
agreed 10 accommodate aim, and, bidding
him good-hve came 20 Kentucky. In a
few days General Smith went to a whole
sole whisky dealer in Covington. where he
found the whisky wanted. What can
you sell me five barrels of whisky for?"
asked General Smith. ''Three dollars
per gallon" replied the dealer.
fiAll right said Smith; there is
check for your money. You ship this
whisky to Mr.. -, Washington City,
and bill it to him at $40 per gallon" The
whisky was shipped, General Smith writ
ing the hotel man that he would be in the
city in few days to collect the bill in
person. In due time he arrived in the
Capital city aud called on the hotel man to
collect his bill. The hotel man met Mr.
Smith with q laugh, and said: well,
General, / guess we are about even, as You
have made more than enough on that
whisky TO get back your hotel
bill; but have made good thing out of
the whisky, anyhow. Come, now, it's my
treat, and I'll show you how have made
money and advertised you at the same
time" As soon as the two entered the
saloon the first thing pointed out to Gen
eral Smith was several large posters hang
ing over the counter, upon which, in rich
gilt letters, was the following: General
Green Clay Smiths Old Crow Kentucky
bourbon Whisky Guaranteed to be
twenty-five years old Only 30 cents
drinkl' 'Well, we'll" said General
Smith, 81 have made 81 400 profit on the
whisky, which l intended as an offset to
your exorbitant hotel bill. You take those
posters down at once and well call il
squsre, and I'll quit the whisky trade"
And, true to his word, he has not since
bought, sold or drank a drop.